Nozzle for discharging ventilation air from a ventilation system

ABSTRACT

Nozzle for discharging ventilation air from a ventilation system, preferably arranged in a vehicle and including at least one discharge housing with a plurality of parallel plates, which are arranged displaceable relative to each other in the transverse direction under the action of a control lever. The plates are formed with a pattern of holes which in coaction form ventilation ducts through which ventilation air can flow and allow deflection of the ventilation air flow direction in response to a set position of the control lever. An object of the invention is to prevent the parallel plates from turning in relation to each other and about the control lever. This is substantially enabled by the plates (13) being formed with guide members (18, 19) with the aid of which juxtaposed plates (13) coact and solely allow parallel displacement of the plates (13) relative to each other in one direction and in that the guide members (18, 19) between different plates (13) extend in different directions, whereby the setting of the plates (13) can take place by different parallel displacements.

The present invention relates to a nozzle for discharging ventilationair from a ventilation system, preferably arranged in a vehicle,including at least one outlet housing with a through-flow duct forventilation air, a plate transverse the flow direction and rigidlyattached to the outlet housing, and a plurality of plates parallel tosaid fixed plate, these plates being arranged mutually displaceable inthe transverse direction under the action of a control lever, the plateshaving patterns of holes, which in coaction form ventilation ductsthrough which the ventilation air can flow and, in response to thesetting of the control lever, allow deviation of the flow direction ofthe ventilation air.

For leading ventilation air from a ventilation system to a room or aseparate space, e.g. a vehicle passenger compartment, it is usual toequip the outlets from the ventilation system with outlet nozzles. In avehicle passenger compartment it is also often usual to arrange aplurality of outlets from the ventilation system, these outletspreferably being placed at the floor, windscreen and fascia. The outletnozzles in the fascia are in this case usually adjustable so that theventilation air can be distributed in different directions.

It is previously known to implement such an adjustable outlet nozzle invehicles in the form of adjustable louvres which are pivotably mountedin a rectangular frame, which is in turn articulately attached to arigid body or the like. By turning either the louvres and/or the frame,the ventilation air flowing out can be given different directions.

In the known structure mentioned, the necessity of turning the frame byitself and the louvres by themselves is, however, a complicatedadjusting procedure for many people. Added to this, the structurecontains a large number of parts which require great accuracy inmanufacture and assembly to achieve the desired coaction. Theseconditions result in that such an outlet nozzle is often relativelyexpensive.

The U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,293 teaches another outlet nozzle which includesa plurality of parallel plates arranged at right angles to the flowdirection. These plates are formed as grids, and all the plates haveperfection patterns which in coaction form ventilation ducts. The platesare arranged for parallel displacement relative each other with the aidof a control lever passing through a central hole in each plate. Forsuch displacement, the perforations in the plates will also bedisplaced, the ventilation ducts being given a deflection which allowsair to flow in a given direction.

The latter nozzle indeed as obvious advantages in comparison with thenozzle first mentioned but has also so many obvious disadvantages thatthe nozzle has not been utilized in practice. Thus, the nozzle requiresa comparatively large number of parts which makes the structureexpensive to produce. Furthermore, setting of the plates is difficult tocarry out with the aid of the control lever, since in differentpositions it causes play relative to the plates and thereby aninaccurate setting.

The plates in the nozzle according to the cited U.S. patentspecification No. 3,672,293 are disposed for mutual engagement under thebias of a compression spring axially surrounding the control lever. Withsuch a coaction, the spring strives to set the plates in a positionwhere they are not displaced relative each other, e.g. in a positioncorresponding to straight through passage of the ventilation air. Thismeans that there is risk for the set oblique ventilation position in thenozzle not being maintained due to the spring striving to maintain acentral setting.

Another variation on how a discharge nozzle including a plurality ofparallel plates can be arranged is described in the International patentspecification with the publication No. WO84/04498. In this case thecontrol lever is formed like a tuning fork which, with longitudinalslots, is adapted to grip a grid cross in each of the displaceableplates. Here the cross comprises two bars crossing each other, of whichone has a circular cross sectional shape and the other an oval crosssectional shape. The fork grips around the circular bar in two placeswhile it grips around the oval bar in only one place. Guidance withoutplay of the parallel plates is thus obtained, at least theoretically. Inpractice, however, there is often a small amount of play between thecontrol lever and the bars of the grid cross, which is caused inter aliaby the manufacturing process. This results in that the plates can beturned without control relative each other about the control lever, andthis results in that the setting of the plates can not be doneaccurately. These disadvantages can indeed be reduced by making thecontrol lever greater and allowing it to grip around the grid crosses ofthe plates at a greater distance from each other. Such increases of thedimensions of the control lever and grid cross are not generallydesirable, however, inter alia from the air flow aspect.

The present invention has the object of forming a discharge nozzle whichis advantageous from the air flow aspect, and which allows distributionof the ventilation air in a desired direction and which does not allowthe parallel plates to move mutually and about the control lever, eventhough there is a certain amount of play between the plates and thecontrol lever. In addition, an objective with the discharge nozzle isthat it shall be simple as well as being cheap in manufacture. This isenabled with an inventive implementation of the nozzle which issubstantially characterized in that the plates are formed with guidemembers, by means of which juxtaposed plates coact and which only permitparallel displacement of the plates relative each other in onedirection, and in that the guide members between different plates extendin different directions, whereby the setting of the plates can takeplace by different parallel displacements and the plates are preventedfrom turning relative each other.

By inventively arranging guide members between the plates, all relativeturning movements between the plates are prevented. Simultaneously, theguide members permit the plates to be adjusted by parallel displacementin different positions for deflecting ventilation air into differentdirections as required.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the control lever passesthrough a hole in the respective plate, each hole being formed withthree inwardly directed studs engaging in longitudinal grooves in thecontrol lever provided for this purpose. Two of the studs are arrangedin mutual, diametrical opposition and have the same cross sectionalconfiguration, which is preferably semi-circular. The third stud isarranged at an angle of 90° to each of the other two studs and has asemi-elliptical cross sectional configuration. The studs on juxtaposedplates coact to form either completely circular or completely ellipticalcross sectional configurations for the respective studs, with thecircular configuration for a given pair of plates and the ellipticalconfiguration for one of these plates and a plate on top of, or at thebottom surface of this pair.

This implementation of the studs allows the longitudinal grooves in thecontrol lever with which the studs coact to be formed with mutuallyparallel side surfaces. In addition, it allows the studs to be arrangedwithout play in the grooves, enabling very accurate setting of theplates. In spite of this, the implementation of the control lever can beeffected with relatively small dimensions, which is advantageous fromthe flow aspect. Even if there is a certain play between the studs andthe control lever, the guide members between the plates ensure that theplates cannot be turned relative each other.

Remaining distinguishing properties of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description relating to an advantageous embodiment ofa discharge nozzle exemplifying the invention in a vehicle ventilationsystem. The description is made with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a front view of a discharge nozzle,

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section A--A of the nozzle according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a principle perspective view of three of the displaceableplates included in the nozzle,

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view to an enlarged scale of a hole intwo of the plates, and

FIG. 5 is a cross section to an enlarged scale of the control lever andparts of adjacent holes in a plate.

The inventive discharge nozzle includes a housing 1 implemented forattachment to the fascia 2 or the like of a vehicle. Such a fascia 2 ispreferably made from a plastics material and is formed with asubstantially rectangular opening 3 to which a ventilation duct(unillustrated) included in the vehicle ventilation system is connectedat the back of the fascia. Around the front part of the opening 3 thefascia 2 is formed with a plurality of inner recesses 5 for a number offixing lugs 6 formed on the housing 1 and preferably made from aplastics material which is sufficiently yielding for the lugs to beclamped in the recesses 5 in the opening 3.

Both end surfaces 7 and 8 of the nozzle housing 1 are open for allowingthrough-flow of ventilation air. To the forward end surface 8 of thehousing 1 there is glued an outer distribution plate 9, which is formedwith a pattern 10 of square holes so that a plurality of mutuallycrossing horizontal and vertical bars are formed between the holes, suchas to be considered as forming a grid-like overall impression. Apartially spherical bearing cup 11 is formed centrally in the outerdistribution plate 9.

Inside this outer distribution plate 9, there are arranged six alikeinner distribution plates 13 in the housing 2, these plates being formedwith the same pattern 10 of holes as the fixed outer distribution plate9. The inner distribution plates 13 are arranged assemblably, mutuallyparallel and parallel to the outer distribution plate 9, thedistribution plates 9,13 assuming positions substantially at rightangles to the longitudinal direction of the housing 1.

The inner distribution plates 13 are laterally displaceable with thelimitations given below, and their respective positions relative to theouter fixed distribution plate 9 are controlled by a control lever 14passing through all the plates 13. Apart from the innermost one, thedisplaceable plates 13 are formed with guide members 18,19 on bothsurfaces 15,16, juxtaposed plates 13 coacting with the aid of theseguide members. On the other hand, the innermost plate 13 and the fixedplate 9 are solely formed with guide members 15,16 on the surface whichare arranged in juxtaposition to the remaining plates 13.

The implementation of the guide members 18,19 is shown in more detail inFIG. 3, which is a principle, perspective view of three of thedistribution plates 13 in an unassembled state. With the object ofclarifying the guide members 18,19 in FIG. 3, these are shown slightlyoversized, and certain parts of the plates 13 have been depicted in asimplified form, also for the purpose of clarity.

The middle one of the plates 13 illustrated in FIG. 3 has its uppersurface 15 directed outwards towards the fixed distribution plate 9, andis on this surface provided with two parallel guide blocks 18 extendingin a horizontal direction corresponding to the direction denoted by thearrow H. The uppermost of the plates 13 is formed with two guide grooves19 on its lower surface 16, these grooves being parallel to the guideblocks 18 on the middle plate 13. The guide blocks 18 mate with theguide grooves 19 and prevent the plates 13 from being turned relativeeach other. The length of the guide blocks 18 is less than the length ofthe guide grooves 19, however, and the two plates 13 may therefore bedisplaced mutually parallel in the horizontal direction H.

In a corresponding manner the middle plate 13 is provided with guidegrooves 19 on its lower surface 16, these grooves coacting with guideblocks 18 on the upper surface 15 of the lower plate 13. These guideblocks 18 and the guide grooves 19 are oriented in a vertical direction,however, corresponding to the direction denoted by the arrow V. Themiddle and the lower plate 13 are thus prevented from turning relativeeach other but can be displaced mutually parallel in the verticaldirection V.

In an analogous way, guide grooves 19 on the lower surface 16 of theundermost plate 13 coact with guide blocks on an underlying plate notillustrated in FIG. 3, and guide blocks 18 on the upper surface 15 ofthe uppermost plate 13 coact with guide grooves in an unillustratedoverlying plate.

All plates 9,13 are formed in an analogous way, except for the outerplate 9, which is solely formed with guide grooves 19 on its inwardsurface 16, and the innermost plate 13 which is solely formed with guideblocks 18 on its surface 15 facing outwards. For the remaining plates 13the guide blocks 18 are arranged on one surface 15 extend in a directionat right angles to the direction of the guide grooves 19 on the othersurface 16 of the plate 13. This results in that two juxtaposed plates13 can be displaced parallel relative each other in one direction, whilein a direction at right angles the same two plates 13 cannot bedisplaced relative each other. On the other hand, the two plates 13 cantogether as a unit be displaced relative the plates 9,13 arranged oneither side of these two plates 13. All plates 13 are thus enabled to bedisplaced in pairs in all directions in this way.

The innermost of the inner distribution plates 13, as illustrated inFIG. 2, is formed on its inward surface with a horizontal ridge 20,which is adapted for coaction with a guide cross 21,22. With this inmind, the guide cross 21,22 includes a horizontal arm 21 with ahorizontal guide groove in which the ridge 20 fits, thus providingdisplaceable mounting for the plates 13. The guide cross 21,22 alsoincludes a vertical arm 22 with a vertical groove for a slidably fittingvertical ridge 23 integral with a pressure plate 24. This pressure plateis horizontally arranged in the housing 1 and is formed at one end withtwo tongues 25 fitting into two corresponding holes in the housing 1.The other end of the pressure plate 24 fits with play into acorresponding recess in the housing 1. At this end the pressure plate isformed with a groove 26 accommodating one end of a helical spring 27,the other end of which is fastened in the housing 1. The spring 27 urgesthe pressure plate 24 outwards, which in turn urges, via the guide cross21,22, the distribution plates 13 outwards into mutual engagement.

Setting of the desired flow direction for ventilation air through thefascia outlet is carried out with the control lever 14. As previouslymentioned, this is mounted in the bearing cup 11 in the outer fixeddistribution plate 9. The control lever 14 is formed for this purposewith a part-spherical bearing surface 28, from which a shank projectsoutwards through an opening in the bearing cup 11 and is provided with aknob 29. Inwardly the control lever 14 is formed as a homogeneous rodextending through a hole 30 formed in each plate 13, the configurationof the hole being shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. On each plate 13 thehole 30 is formed with three guide studs 31,32,33, extending inwardstowards the control lever 14. The studs 31,32 and 33 are arranged at 90°to each other such that two studs 31,32 are diametrically opposed. Boththese studs 31,32 are semi-circular in cross section. The third,intermediate stud 33 has a half-elliptical cross sectionalconfiguration, the major axis of which is arranged in a plane which alsoincludes one surface 15,16 of the plate 13. The other surface 15,16 ofthe plate is arranged in a place which also includes a diameter of thestuds 31,32, which have semi-circular cross sectional configuration.

For two adjacent plates 13 the semi-circular studs 31,32 on respectiveplates are complementary and thus make up a completely circular crosssectional configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In a correspondingway the semi-elliptical studs 33 on two adjacent plates are complementaland thus form a completely elliptical cross sectional configuration. InFIG. 4 the middle stud 33 of the upper plate 13 thus coacts with themiddle stud on an unillustrated plate lying on top of the oneillustrated. In the same way the middle stud 33 of the lower plate 13coacts with a middle stud of an unillustrated plate lying against thebottom plate illustrated in FIG. 4. The control lever 14 passing throughthe holes 30 is not illustrated in FIG. 4.

The studs 31-33 of all the plates 13 fit into longitudinal grooves34,35,36 in the control lever 14, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Two of thegrooves 34,35 are arranged on opposing side surfaces of the controllever 14 and are formed with a groove width which is substantially thesame as the diameter of the semicircular studs 31,32, which thus fitwithout play in the grooves 34,35.

In a similar way the semi-elliptical studs 33 fit the third groove 36,which is formed with a groove width which is substantially just as greatas the length of the major axis of the ellipse. These studs 33 thus alsofit the groove 36 without play. It is also illustrated in FIG. 5 how thesection line A--A according to FIG. 1 extends in the vicinity of thecontrol lever 14.

In order to set the desired flow direction for ventilation air throughthe discharge nozzle, the control lever 14 is caused to turn about itsmounting in the bearing cup 11 in the outer distribution plate 9.

During such a movement the inner distribution plates 13 are caused tomove in parallel so that the patterns 10 of holes in the distributionplates 9,13 form deflecting ventilation ducts which can lead theventilation air in a direction substantially coinciding with thelongitudinal direction to which the control lever 14 is set.

When displacing the control lever 14 in a vertical direction, it isturned about the horizontal studs 31,32, which have a semi-circularcross sectional configuration. However, the guide members 18,19 betweenthe plates 13, which have studs 31,32 completely forming circles incross section, are oriented such that the plates 13 cannot be mutuallydisplaced in a vertical direction. This results in that these plates 13can be displaced vertically solely in pairs.

In the turning movement of the control lever 14, relative turning takesplace between the studs 31,32 of the plates and the control lever 14.Since the grooves 34,35 of the control lever 14 have the same width asthe diameters of the studs 31,32, there is obtained a setting which isequally as accurate independent of the set position of the control lever14.

When the control lever 14 is displaced in the horizontal direction, itis turned in a corresponding way about the studs 33 which havesemi-elliptical cross sectional configuration. In this case, the guidemembers 18, 19 between the plates 13, which have studs 33 complementaryforming completely elliptical cross sectional configurations, areoriented such that the plates 13 cannot be mutually displaced in ahorizontal direction. This results in that these plates 13 can only bedisplaced horizontally in pairs. The plates 13 coacting in pairs in thisway are thus not the same as the plates 13 coacting in pairs for avertical displacement of the control lever 14.

The studs 33 engaging in the groove 36 on the control lever 14 coact inpairs analogously as with a stud with a completely elliptical crosssectional configuration. For a turning movement of the control lever 14relative the studs 33 the width of the coacting studs 33 in the groove36 will be substantially constant and equal to that of the groove 36,irrespective of the rotational position of the control lever 14 relativethe studs 33. This results in that the setting of the plates 13 can takeplace with great accuracy.

The mentioned cross sectional configuration of the studs 31-33 thusresult in that the control lever can simultaneously be displaced to amaximum both in a vertical and horizontal direction, and thereby enableuniversal setting of the discharge nozzle with great accuracy.

The grooves 34-36 in the control lever 14 extend along the axial lengthof the lever 14 inwards along its entire length, but outwards only asfar as the outermost of the displaceable plates 13. This results in thatthe studs 31-33 in this plate also engage against a transverse edge (notillustrated) in the respective groove 31-33. The lever 14 is thuspositioned axially inwardly by these edges in the grooves 31-33 andoutwardly by the previously mentioned bearing cup 11.

Simultaneously as the control lever 14 is turned horizontally and/orvertically the guide cross 21,22 slides relative to the horizontal ridge20 and the vertical ridge 23, respectively. It is thus ensured that thedistribution plates 13 are urged towards each other in all settingpositions. On the other hand, transverse forces parallel to the plates13 cannot be transmitted from the spring or the pressure plate 24, whichensures that the plates 13 are not uncontrollably displaced in this way.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplified embodiment, but canbe modified and applied in alternative embodiments within the scope ofthe following claims.

For example, the implementation of the guide members can be varied in aplurality of different ways, as well as their orientation in relation tothe plates. In the described example, it has been stated how the platescoact in pairs. In an alternative embodiment it is possible to adapt theplates so that coaction can also take place between three or moreplates. The embodiment of the control lever and coacting studs can alsobe varied. The invention is thus not restricted to the describedexample.

I claim:
 1. A nozzle for discharging ventilation air from a ventilationsystem, comprising:(A) a housing with a through-flow duct for conductingthe ventilation air through said housing; (B) a plurality of relativelydisplaceable plates across said duct, said plates being disposed overone another and being oriented generally parallel, said plates eachhaving a hole therethrough for air flow, said holes being arranged oversaid plates to that said holes in said plates coact to form aventilation duct for conducting ventilation air through saidthrough-flow duct of said housing, said plates being displaceabletransverse to said through-flow duct to move their said holes to changethe flow direction of the ventilation air; (C) guide means forpreventing adjacent said plates from turning with respect to each otherand for permitting said adjacent plates to shift in a directiontransverse to said through-flow duct with respect to each other, saidguide means including guide members defined on each of said plates, saidguide members being shaped and placed so that said guide members ofadjacent said plates cooperate to prevent said turning and to permitsaid shifting; and (D) means engaging said plates for displacing themwith respect to each other for redirecting air flow.
 2. The nozzle ofclaim 1, wherein said guide means includes means for causing a pair ofadjacent said plates to be displaceable in one respective direction eachwith respect to each other and for causing a second pair of said platesto be displaceable in a second different respective direction withrespect to each other.
 3. The nozzle of claim 2, wherein one said platehas said guide members on opposite sides thereof so that said one plateis one of each of said first and second pairs of plates.
 4. The nozzleof claim 2, wherein said engaging means comprises a lever passingthrough said plates for displacing said displaceable plated for changingthe direction of flow of the ventilation air.
 5. The nozzle of claim 2,wherein one of said plates is a fixed plate rigidly connected to saidhousing and other said plates are displaceable with respect to saidfixed plate.
 6. The nozzle of claim 5, wherein said plates are paralleland juxtaposed one closely above the next adjacent one.
 7. The nozzle ofclaim 1, wherein said plates have opposite surfaces;said guide memberscomprising: guide blocks on one said surface of one said plate;cooperatingly shaped and placed guide grooves in an adjacent saidsurface of another said plate for receiving said guide blocks, saidblocks and said grooves being shaped to enable said plates to displacerelative to each other along one direction.
 8. The nozzle of claim 7,wherein said guide blocks on said one surface have a direction ofextension and the respective cooperating said guide grooves on theadjacent said plate surface extend parallel to said direction ofextension.
 9. The nozzle of claim 8, wherein there are said guidemembers on the opposite said surfaces of each said plate;said guidemembers at one said surface of a said plate extend at right angles tosaid guide members at the opposite said surface of that said plate. 10.The nozzle of claim 8, wherein there are said guide members on theopposite said surfaces of each said plate;said guide members at one saidsurface of a said plate extend in a different direction from said guidemembers at the opposite said surface of that said plate.
 11. The nozzleof claim 9, wherein said guide members are oriented such that twoadjacent said plates are displaceable with respect to each other whileremaining parallel to each other.
 12. The nozzle of claim 8, whereinsaid guide members are oriented such that two adjacent said plates aredisplaceable with respect to each other while remaining parallel to eachother.
 13. The nozzle of claim 2, wherein said guide members areoriented such that two adjacent said plates are displaceable withrespect to each other while remaining parallel to each other.
 14. Thenozzle of claim 4, wherein each of said plates includes a lever holetherethrough and said control lever extends through said lever holes;said control lever and said lever holes are respectively so shaped thatlateral motion of said lever correspondingly moves said plates which areengaged by said lever, in the manner permitted by said guide members.15. The nozzle of claim 14, further comprising longitudinal grooves inand extending along said lever and each of said lever holes in a saidplate being shaped and bordered to define a plurality of studs which aredirected inwardly in different respective directions and are engagedwithin respective said longitudinal grooves.
 16. The nozzle of claim 15,wherein each said lever hole has three said studs.
 17. The nozzle ofclaim 16, wherein each said stud of each said lever hole isperpendicular to the adjacent said stud of that said lever hole.
 18. Thenozzle of claim 17, wherein two of said studs are mutually opposed andthose said studs have the same cross-sections.
 19. The nozzle of claim18, wherein said two studs have a semicircular cross-section, and thethird said stud has a cross-section of half an ellipse.
 20. The nozzleof claim 19, wherein:a diameter of said cross-section of said two studsis located in a plane which includes one said surface of the respectivesaid plate; and the major axis of said cross-section of the third saidstud is located in a plane which includes the other said surface of saidplate.
 21. The nozzle of claim 20, wherein:the two said studs of firstand second adjacent said plates are oriented so that together they forma completely circular cross-section; and the third said studs of saidfirst plate and of a third plate which is adjacent to said first plateare oriented so that they together form a completely ellipticalcross-section.
 22. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said nozzle is adaptedfor use within a vehicle.
 23. The nozzle of claim 5, further comprisingurging means for urging said displaceable plates toward said fixed platewithout affecting the said displaceability of said displaceable plates.24. The nozzle of claim 23, wherein said urging means comprises:a firstridge on one of said displaceable plates; a guide cross, said guidecross comprising a first groove for slidably receiving said ridge, and asecond groove which is fixed with respect to and perpendicular to saidfirst groove; a second ridge slidably received within said secondgroove; and a pressure plate arrangement for applying pressure to saidsecond ridge.
 25. The nozzle of claim 24, wherein said pressure platearrangement comprises:a pressure plate fixed to said second ridge; aspring for pressing said pressure plate toward said displaceable plates;and tongues connecting said pressure plate to said housing.